***

I have to admit that I was not pleased when Pierce Brosnan was announced as Roger Moore's replacement back in 1986. But after I learned of NBC's treachery that denied him the role, I wanted him to get a second chance at playing James Bond. After seeing this film, especially after the six year drought following the last BOND film, I can say quite confidently that Pierce Brosnan is the best 007 since Sean Connery. Although he plays the role in a slightly tentative way here, Brosnan makes a superb James Bond overall. My biggest problem with this film is it's needless concessions to, for lack of a better term, political correctness. It is very clear that the friendly flirtations between Bond and Miss Moneypenny from the previous films are completely lost on the new BOND producers. Their scenes together are supposed to be fun, but not here in this film. It is also a grave error to have a female M. This violates the Fleming BOND formula: 007's superior is supposed to be like a type of father figure to him. But to make matters even worse, the filmmakers have this new female M spout almost radical feminist tripe at Bond. But for what purpose? Bond doesn't change and his instincts prove to be correct about his assignment. He is right and his superior at MI6 is totally wrong.